Young Entrepreneur: Neema Mgana
by Anya L. Alexander
T
alk about starting early! Neema Mgana was only 29 years old when she was nominated, along with 1,000 other women, for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. A social entrepreneur, Mgana was nominated for her work in Africa, where she formed partnerships with organizations around the world to address issues of poverty and hunger, HIV/AIDS and malaria, primary education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, and environmental sustainability.
In 2003 Mgana, a native of Tanzania who is temporarily based in Paris, founded the African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI), which works with more than 500 youth- and community-based organizations across the continent. ARYI addresses development issues outlined in the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. MTV awarded ARYI the 2005 Staying Alive Award for its innovative and community-minded approach to HIV/AIDS programs.
“The organization not only empowers individuals and communities, but also nurtures the exchange of knowledge and capacity between entities through programmatic partnerships with regional organizations and networks,” Mgana says.
In 2005 Mgana founded the Rural Center of Excellence in Ipuli Village, Tanzania, her hometown. The project thrived as she partnered with local groups, national agencies, and internationally-based organizations to build and operate a health center, a medical training center, and a secondary school in an undeveloped area with limited resources. She is currently working to replicate the project in other countries in Africa.
Where others often see hopelessness, Mgana sees possibilities. When asked what compelled her to become a social entrepreneur, she states, “Meeting inspiring people from all over the world showed me that through conviction, determination, and belief in humanity, change is possible.”